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Title: Vivid
Author: Andrea Murray
Published: December 13 2011
By: Andrea Murray; Epublished
When Vivian Cartwright was five years old, she witnessed her mother’s death.
Now, sixteen-year-old Vivian only wants a normal life—hard to accomplish when you possess the power to control energy. Her entire life she has feared her power and its connection to her mother’s murder. She has kept her ability a secret from everyone except her guardian, Charlotte, who has hidden Vivian from the man responsible for her mother’s murder.
Her secret is safe until Vivian subconsciously defends herself at school using her power. After this first use of her gift in many years, Vivian’s power seems to take on a mind of its own, increasing in strength and demanding to be used. This increase in power also brings dreams of her mother’s death and the mysterious man connected with it. When she is assigned to tutor the would-be boyfriend of Trista Parmer (a.k.a. the biggest diva in school), Vivian cannot deny the electrifying connection that she feels for the boy, Easton Garrett. In her desire to get Easton away from Vivian, Trista doubles her efforts to humiliate Vivian, forcing Vivian to use her supernatural gift over and over. With each use, Vivian fears she is losing control and discovers her powers are growing—maybe too much—bringing her unknowingly closer to the man who murdered her mother.
Now, sixteen-year-old Vivian only wants a normal life—hard to accomplish when you possess the power to control energy. Her entire life she has feared her power and its connection to her mother’s murder. She has kept her ability a secret from everyone except her guardian, Charlotte, who has hidden Vivian from the man responsible for her mother’s murder.
Her secret is safe until Vivian subconsciously defends herself at school using her power. After this first use of her gift in many years, Vivian’s power seems to take on a mind of its own, increasing in strength and demanding to be used. This increase in power also brings dreams of her mother’s death and the mysterious man connected with it. When she is assigned to tutor the would-be boyfriend of Trista Parmer (a.k.a. the biggest diva in school), Vivian cannot deny the electrifying connection that she feels for the boy, Easton Garrett. In her desire to get Easton away from Vivian, Trista doubles her efforts to humiliate Vivian, forcing Vivian to use her supernatural gift over and over. With each use, Vivian fears she is losing control and discovers her powers are growing—maybe too much—bringing her unknowingly closer to the man who murdered her mother.
First line: “When I was five, I watched my mother die”
Last Line: “I will find her. She’s my blood”
Fave Line: “He’s not the first teacher who has tried to help me, to save me from a future life as a lonely cat lady.”
Vivid is the first instalment of Andrea Murray’s YA Series, she is self-published, which we at Midnight Reads are very excited about because we are one of a selected group who have had the privilege of reading this book before anyone else!
Vivid is slightly different from YA material I have read before, we have Vivian our main protagonist; she is strong and independent, and with her powers is certainly in no need of saving. I think we find so often that our heroines in fiction appear to be in control and resilient, however they always seem to be saved by ‘the white knight’. I liked that Vivian saves herself, she doesn’t need a man too look after her, a really positive message to young women; we can be strong and achieve! Vivian’s powers are astonishing, and I liked that we were with her when she started to discover how to use her special gift. I find in so many paranormal and Sci fi material that when a character has a power it is not always explained why they have it, what it is and where it comes from! However Murray attempts to explain the bizarre phenomenon that Vivian experiences, where her power generates from.
Behind Vivian Murray has a cast of secondary Characters, Aunt Charlotte who has raised Vivian after her mother mysteriously dies! Vivian and Aunt Charlotte share some really special moments in the book, Charlotte is effectively the only mother Vivian has ever known and it is clear to see they have a mother/daughter bond; however they are also really good friends. I enjoyed reading Charlotte’s struggle to find a balance between being a strict mother and not trying to laugh at some of Vivian’s naughty antics!
Another character is Abbey, Vivian’s best Friend, the camaraderie between the two girls at the beginning of the book is a treat to read! I was smiling and laughing at some of their conversations on the page, these sections were really well written and their close friendship is believable. Abbey was a funny character and she lit up the page for me when she appeared, she had witty one liners and comical expressions, she made me smile!
Easton Garrett takes position as the male lead in the story, and boy is he gorgeous! I liked that their relationship develops quickly, although a long drawn out romance is always yummy! In this case it was nice that they both knew how they felt quite quickly. Easton is a baseball player, therefore he has an athlete’s psychic and Murray constantly reminds us of this, I wasn’t complaining! In all seriousness though Easton is a lovely boy and Vivian is really lucky to have found him because he accepts her power, he even accepts that she won’t tell him everything about it and this does not faze him. Even though Murray introduces a strong male lead he does not over power our heroin and I admire her for this.
The Story would not be complete without a Villain who everybody loves to hate; this comes in the form of Trista Palmer, and boy do you hate her! What a horrible young lady, never mind Vivian wanting to smack her I wanted too! Trista is queen bee at the local high school and rules by publically humiliating her fellow pupils, Vivian and Abby being her favourite victims. Luckily she gets her comeuppance at the end, however as soon as Vivian deals with Trista she soon discovers that there are bigger and scarier villains afoot.
Murray leaves the story in suspense; she introduces and answers some questions in this instalment however she leaves us with bigger and more profound questions to be answered. We also see the death of a really important character at the end which was heart-breaking to read!
4 of 5 stars! I really enjoyed this story, it made me smile and laugh and it also made me cry! I liked that Vivian was a strong female character who fought and protected herself! I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the Vivid series! And hopefully find out the answers to those intriguing questions!
Helen
3 comments:
I read this book when it first came out, of course Murray's mother-in-law works with me and therefore I knew the day it was released to Kindle. I loved the story very much especially the fact that it deals with problems all teens face at school and trying to fit in or to just be left alone to do their own thing without causing criticisms from the so call uppity ups. Adding the sci-fi made it just that much more exciting. I cannot wait until the sequel is finished to see where Vivian goes next. I definitely urge everyone to read this book it is good reading no matter what your age is.
This sounds really interesting but I think the cover lets it down.
Never judge a book by its cover. There's a very good reason for that saying. I usually go further- never judge by the blurb on the back.
I open the book read the first paragraph and if it takes me to the second or even the third then I'll be reading it while they scan it at the register.
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